Friday game report: Brewers at Nationals

INSIDE PITCH

Washington leftfielder Josh Willingham reached base in all four trips to the plate with a walk, single, homer and hit-by-pitch. His home run off Yovani Gallardo tied the game in the sixth inning.

TURNING POINT

Brewers set-up man LaTroy Hawkins was given a one-run lead in the eighth but surrendered three runs. He set the stage for failure by hitting Willingham with a pitch after Alberto Gonzalez led off with an infield hit.

BEHIND THE BOX SCORE

• For the second consecutive game, the opposing first baseman was ejected for arguing with an umpire. Washington's Adam Dunn thought he checked his swing on a 3-2 pitch in the first inning but was called out on appeal by third base ump Andy Fletcher. Dunn slammed his helmet to the ground and was immediately tossed by Fletcher. On Thursday, Chicago's Derrek Lee was booted for arguing a called third strike in the seventh inning.

• To celebrate Jackie Robinson Day a day late - the Nationals were on the road Thursday - Washington rightfielder Willie Harris wore No. 42. Harris was born in the same hometown as Robinson - Cairo, Ga. The only other major-leaguer from that town was Ernest Riles, a former Brewers shortstop who is Harris' uncle.

• Brewers catcher Gregg Zaun was called out for interference in the bottom of the sixth inning when he topped a ball in front of the plate, then made contact with it breaking out of the batter's box. Two, unassisted, for those scoring at home.

CLUBHOUSE CONFIDENTIAL

• Manager Ken Macha said he would announce Saturday his plan for giving No. 5 starter Jeff Suppan his next assignment. Macha probably will start Suppan next Friday at home against the Cubs, allowing him to split left-handers RandyWolf and Doug Davis as he recently said he wanted to do. Wolf is in line to pitch the third game in Pittsburgh before the Brewers return home.

STATITUDES

• The Brewers left 15 runners on base Thursday in their 8-6 victory in Chicago, the 41st time in team history they stranded at least 15. They had not totaled 15 LOBs in a nine-inning game since a 9-3 victory on May 10, 2003 in Cincinnati.

• Willingham's sixth-inning home run kept alive the Brewers' streak of allowing at least one homer in each of their first 10 games. The 18 homers allowed are the most of any pitching staff in the NL.

• The 5-5 record is the best for the Nationals through 10 games in their five-year history.

RECORD

THIS YEAR: 4-6

LAST YEAR: 3-7

HOME: 3-3 (0-1 roof open, 3-2 roof closed).

ROAD: 1-3

ON DECK

TEAMS: Brewers at Nationals (5-5).

WHEN: 12:05 p.m. Saturday.

WHERE: Nationals Park.

BROADCASTS: TV - FS Wisconsin. Radio - AM-620.

PROBABLE PITCHERS: Milwaukee LHP Randy Wolf (1-0, 4.05 ERA) vs. Washington RHP Livan Hernandez (1-0, 0.00). Wolf left his last start against St. Louis with a 7-4 lead but got a no-decision when closer Trevor Hoffman surrendered three runs in the ninth. He is 9-4 with a 4.43 ERA in 20 career starts against Washington but never has pitched at Nationals Park. The ageless Hernandez pitched seven shutout innings against the Mets in his only start of the season.

Tom Haudricourt

IN THE MINORS

NASHVILLE (AAA): Darwin Barney's RBI single and a two-run double by Bobby Scales in the 11th sent Iowa to a 7-4 victory over the Sounds.